a nod of thanks as he reaches for the goblet, raising it slightly as he speaks. " your grace, " the road south had been a tedious one. though there had been a time when the young lord stark took any excuse to stray from winterfell's walls, duty had long since stripped all romance from the idea. such travel was a poor expenditure these days, and though his wedding could wait, the north’s hunger could not. avan would offer no such complaint in present company. his gaze wanders across the hall before settling back on the prince. " as well as could be expected. i trust the realm has not made too great a demand of its host? "

aegon bows his head slightly as lord avan raises his goblet, a polite greeting from the northman. he always enjoyed the starks, visiting his aunt when he was younger with his dragon made the travel easy, now he can't imagine making the trek dragon-less. "that is good to hear," he replies politely. "the realm always demands much but we are happy hosts and wish for all to feel welcome." the words felt fake and political on his tongue, as if they came from his father instead. "if there is anything that could make your stay more pleasant, please don't hesitate to ask."

a polite smile pulled on his lips, bowing his head back to the lady. sometimes he wondered if anyone would be polite to him if he was born into a different family, if he wasn't the heir to the throne, would they amuse him with these silly conversations? he knew the answer was probably not. none the less, he was happy to be humored as he listened to calanthe speak of the entertainers of oldtown. "that sounds lovely, honestly. i'm sure you get a plethora of interesting characters and stories from across the narrow sea." while kings landing does see others from around the world, they aren't typically welcome in the red keep without an invitation from his father. "you are far too kind, my lady. i would love to visit, i have not been to oldtown since my studies took me to the citadel with questions as a young boy. perhaps my lady wife and i can bring the children and show them the wonders that are out there."

she doesn't get to see her nieces and nephews in the crownlands nearly as often as she would like. especially since their dragons passed, their travel becoming a much harder thing to do. it did nothing to sway her softness for him as one of the first born children of her siblings, special place in her heart for him and alayne's oldest especially. her face turns from stone to brightness at the sight of him, mouth splitting in open adoration. " aegon. " she cares very little for decorum as she wraps him in a hug, if only momentarily before pulling back to look him over. " fucking dreadful to travel from the north. the children loved it, though. alaric has never been so talkative as he has since taking in he new scenery. " she sighs softly, hands on his upper arms as she squeezes gently. " and you? how have things been here? "

wrapped in the arms of his aunt, for a short moment aegon felt as if he was a child again. he always loved his arryn aunts growing up, their softness remained even as he grew into a man. "the kings road is always long and tedious, i always disliked it myself without naerax to fly the way." without his dragon, he has scarlessly made the trek up to the north, instead needing to rely on horses. "we will have to get the children together, maegelle has been excited to meet her cousins." aerys was a bit too young to understand, but he was just happy to try all of the cakes the kitchens have been putting out. "things have been well," was it a lie? perhaps, but he wasn't going to jump straight into what has been happening between the king and queen the second her sister walked in the castle. "it has been busy preparing for the festivities, you know how much my father loves to put on a show."

she squinted her eyes as she peered upwards, the room spinning ever so slightly, “is that.. prince aegon?" 

a forced but polite smile pulled on aegon's lips, one he's used a million times over his life. he was not an angry man, a bit of spilt wine was not enough to ruin the night. instead, he smiled and shook his head lightly at the northerner. "no need to fuss," aegon said in a gentle voice, as if he was speaking to his own daughter for spilling juice. "it is a feast and beverages are flowing, mistakes will happen." his hands wiped down the front of his shirt, wondering how many layers the red was going to stain before the traditional black, targaryen doublet.

Location: Fourth day, during the performances and plays

obella, to her credit, was able to at least act like she was enjoying the performances. though if anyone asked, she would not be able to tell them what they were about. she was not the type to watch plays or listen to singers, but when the king goes all out for his guests, she knows its best to play the part of a grateful party member. hearing a voice from beside her, obella let out a small chuckle under her breath at how it seemed the other woman was reading her mind. "i suppose there is some merit to it," she started before giving in to the same sentiment, "but i can attest that it is not for me. there are far better things i would like to spend my time with."

even in a back corner, the two brothers' couldn't escape the pressure that their father puts on them. the formalities aren't dropped because what if someone over heard and believed that the princes of house targaryen were unruly. as if their father hadn't just given a strange welcoming speech to all the lords and ladies. aegon let out a sigh and ducked his head, "yes, yes of course, father always watching." it felt, at least of aegon, that their father was even more watchful these days, always glancing over his shoulders as if he's expecting something to happen in the halls of the red keep. it worried him just how much their father has changed. "he wants to show that we are a strong, united front. that despite everything, we are still the blood of the dragon." blood of the dragon who don't have any dragons.

“yes, i think so. i was lucky when i carried maegelle and aerys; i was rarely unwell at all. perhaps the seven have decided to humble me with this one.”

"yes, they gods had blessed you with ease at those times," aegon said, not entirely focused on the words. the meaning going over his head for just a moment too long before- "this one?" he asked, finally connecting what his wife was telling him. "what are you saying? that you are-?" he almost didn't want to say it out loud. he wanted to hear if from ysara's lips. the idea of a third child running around, not the heir or a spare but a third would have the whole world in front of them to do as they please. perhaps this one would come out looking like him; not that he minds his dark haired children when they come out looking like their beautiful mother. aegon looked to his wife with an almost excitement in his eyes.

by the time ysara and aegon finally returned to their chambers, the feast had finally begun to disperse. though the hall itself was behind her, its echoes lingered throughout the red keep in the form of distant music, laughter, and the low murmur of guests unwilling to surrender the evening. by morning, every corridor would be overflowing with rumors and interpretations of the night's events. some ambitious lord was likely already recounting the king's speech to a small audience, each retelling more dramatic than the last. closing the door behind her, ysara crossed the room with a soft sigh and immediately reached for the jeweled pins woven through her hair. one by one they were removed and deposited atop a nearby table until dark waves spilled freely over her shoulders. a necklace followed, then a pair of earrings, each piece discarded with the quiet relief of someone finally shedding the weight of royal expectations. the evening had not unfolded quite as she'd intended. one moment she had been seated beside aegon enduring the third course, and the next she had found herself fighting a sudden wave of nausea so strong she'd been forced to excuse herself from the hall before she drew unwanted attention. by the time the feeling had passed and she felt capable of returning, enough time had elapsed that she knew her absence had likely been noted. still, she'd returned. appearances mattered, after all. settling into a chair near the hearth, she slipped a ring from her finger and glanced toward her husband. "i should apologize for disappearing. it was not my intention to abandon you like that. i found myself in need of air rather suddenly and thought it wiser to leave than risk creating a far more memorable scene." the ring turned slowly between her fingers. "though i suspect my absence inspired its own speculation. perhaps i should have more faith in the court and its ability to occupy itself without inventing stories." the amusement faded as her thoughts drifted back toward the feast itself. "your father's speech has certainly given them enough material to work with."

the moment the door closes behind them, it is like a spell is lifted from aegon, the tension already leaving his shoulders for even having just a small barrier between him and the rest of the keep. behind closed doors, he was allow to release the breath he always felt as if he was holding. he had allowed himself a polite and respectable few cup of wine that was shared with other lords and ladies, but it was never quite enough to have him fully relaxed and enjoying himself like all the others at the feast. now behind closed doors, as he watched his wife peal away her jewels, he pours himself a cup from his own personal pitcher.

0/4 open starter at the feast

the welcoming festivities were well and truly swinging, the halls filled with great lords and ladies coming together for the first time in years. it should be a glorious time, to see everyone come together, but aegon had too much on his mind. his father's words echoing in his mind, the pressure of appearances, tension felt through his bones. truth be told, he had yet another fucking stomach ache. it was hard to find a moment to sneak away to the privy, people left and right stopping him to have a few words with the crown prince.